Wire-fence stretcher.



J- B. BANKSGN. WIRE FENCE STRBTGHER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1910.

Patented. Mar. 28, 1911.

UNTTED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES B. BANKSON, OF CANTON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

WIRE-FENCE STRETCHER.

of one or more screw-threaded rotatable feed-rods carrying travelers, said travelers being arranged to travel in opposite directions, and suitable gearmg for actuatlng the rods.

The invention further consists of the general construction and arrangement of the several parts. as will be hereinafter fully described herein, and briefly stated in the claims.

One of the chief objects of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned which shall be of simple and inexpensive construction, and at the same time durable and efiicient in operation.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon a complete disclosure thereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view; Fig. 2 is an edge view of one of the travelers, and F ig. 3 is an edge view of the operating crank.

Referring to the several views, the numeral 1 indicates a suitable frame, preferably rectangular in shape, provided with a narrowed extension 2. The frame is provided with a cross-bar 3, and a longitudinal bar 4 divides the frame into two spaces 5 and 6. Journaled in the cross-bar is a screwthreaded feed-rod 7, which extends into space 5 and has its head provided with a bevel gear-wheel 8 meshing with similar gear-wheel 9, mounted on a shaft 10, journaled in the sides of the frame. Also journaled in the cross-bar 4 is a screw-threaded feed-rod 11, which extends into the space 6 and has its head provided with a bevel gear wheel 12 meshing with a similar gear-wheel 13 mounted on the shaft 10. Mounted on the shaft 10, between the gear-wheels 9 and 13, is a cog-wheel 14, and mounted on a shaft 15, journaled in the side walls of the extension, is a small, driving cog-wheel 16 which meshes with the larger cog-wheel 14. The shaft 15 is provided with a squared Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 25, 1910.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

Serial No. 563,426.

which either shaft may be driven to cause,

through the medium of the bevel gears, the rotation of the screw-threaded feed-rods.

The feed-rod 7 carries a traveler 18 and the feed-rod 11 carries a traveler 19, each traveler including a screw-threaded nut 20 and a link 21 which has one end terminating in a flattened extension 22, to which is loosely-attached, a hook 23. In operation, the extension end of the stretcher will be attached to a fence-post, and the end of either traveler to any suitable attaching means with which the edge of the woven-wire fence may be provided, by means of the hook 23, it being understood that whichever traveler is so attached must be positioned at the outer end of its feed-rod, so that when either shaft is rotated the traveler will move up the rod, stretching or tightening the fence in its movement. If the other traveler, for instance 18, which has been out of commission during the operation, is positioned at the inner end of its feed-rod it will be moved toward the outer end of said rod as the latter revolves, so that when the traveler 19, that is connected with the fence, has reached the limit of its inward movement, the other traveler 18 will have reached the limit of its outward travel, and in position to be connected with the fence upon the detachment of the traveler 19. When the traveler '18 has been connected to the fence and the traveler 19 disconnected, the driving-shaft is operated in a direction reverse to its former revolution, whereby the traveler 18 will be caused to move inward to stretch or tighten the fence, and the traveler 19 moved outward, thus it will be seen that the travelers are operated alternately in stretching or tightening the fence, thereby saving time and labor in the operation.

By operating the shaft 15 to cause cogwheel 16 to drive cog-wheel 14, increased power in revolving the feed-rods is obtained, and increased leverage may be obtained by lengthening the crank-arm 17 which is composed of two members 24 and 25, the latter having bent-portions 26 and 27, respectively, provided with slots through which the member 24 is adapted to slide, a set-screw 28 be ing provided to secure the members together at the desired length. The outer end of the member 25 is provided with a rectangular opening 29 to receive the squared end of the shafts.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim is:

1. A wire-fence tightener, having in combination a suitable frame, a pair of travelers mounted on screw-threaded rods journaled in said frame, a wire engaging member attached to each follower and means for revolving said rods said travelers being so positioned on said rods that they will be caused to move in opposite directions whereby one traveler will be doing the work required while the other will be moving to working position.

2. A. wire-fence tightener, comprising a frame divided longitudinally into two spaces, a traveler movable in each space, a wire engaging member attached to each follower, and means for moving the travelers in opposite directions, whereby one traveler will be doing the work required while the other will be moving to working position.

3. A wire-fence tightener, comprising a frame divided longitudinally into two spaces and provided with a cross-bar, a screwthreaded rod operative in each space and journaled in said cross-bar, a traveler movable on each rod, a wire engaging member attached to each followen and means for revolving said rods to move the travelers in oposite directions, whereby one traveler will be doing work while the other is assuming a position to commence doing work.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. BANKSON.

iVitnesses Mrs. B. CHURoHYAno, H. N. Coornn.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

